Postnatal Goals
Let’s talk about being postnatal. Once postnatal always postnatal they say. But I believe you can regain a sense of your former self with patience, acceptance and focus, all be it fluctuating and always changing.
However, here is the thing. You’ve changed. We know the brain chemistry of a pregnant woman and postnatal woman are different; science says so. Be honest with yourself. Your circumstances have changed and so chasing a level of fitness that was once there is certainly achieveable but the key to getting to the space where you are truely happy with how you feel in body and mind postnatally, I feel, is compassion. Compassion with yourself. Knowing that the return to a fit, strong, pain-free, leak free you is going to be filled with ups and downs, interruptions, storms and sick nights and days, work demands, family demands and everything in between.
I will never forget my attempts to return to exercise after having my first baby Luisne by c-section. This was eight years ago and we know alot more now than we did back then. Luisne barely slept. she barely napped and I was clueless. I can remember setting up my yoga mat at her early morning nap and praying I would get through the whole session- which I NEVER did. But here is the thing- I relied on that one window. I didnt have the flexibility in me at that stage to recognise that I could set her up once settled and continue with my session . Yes, it wasn’t the same. The altered freedom, that you experience, as a new mum is one to be acknowledged. Before having your baby you could go wherever, whenever for the most part. If you made a plan to exercise you could complete it, have a nice long shower and recover afterwards; slightly different story afterwards, right?
‘Meet your body where it is at….just begin again and again and again.’
I tried mother-baby fitness classes which work for so many. But between the travel there and back, the intensity of the class and the inevitable breastfeeding at the end of every session it took more energy from me than I had to give. I used to feel cranky and irritable later the day. I was just pushing myself too hard, too fast.
Now, I’ve met enough first time mums to know that not everyone has this experience. But my point is, is to try to carve out a routine around fitness that suits where YOU are at, not anyone else and certainly not immediately where you were pre baby and pre pregnancy, no matter how fit you were. Continue to change and adapt this as your baby grows. Try not to push yourself too hard- because if there is one thing I know both personally and professionally the body and mind have a funny way of pushing back.
Meet your body where it is at. You will have setbacks but try to begin again each week. Even if it is difficult to build the consistency in the first few years ( yes it can take that long) just begin again and again and again.
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